| If you have worked long enough for your web | | | | type of browser is being used. |
| design company, or if you have tried designing a site | | | | II. Elements such as images and graphics will not tend |
| on your own, you should already know by now that | | | | to overpower the text contents especially in smaller |
| there are two kinds of web page layouts that you | | | | monitors. |
| can choose from. Fixed width layouts are those | | | | III. No matter how wide the visitor's browser is, the |
| wherein the width of the entire web page is set at a | | | | scan length will not be affected when there are large |
| specific value, while liquid layouts are those wherein | | | | segments of text. |
| the width is flexible depending on how wide the | | | | 2. The web design Drawbacks |
| online visitor's browser is. Choosing between these | | | | I. They will cause horizontal scrolling in small browser |
| two layout methods can be a little difficult for a web | | | | windows. Users generally dislike having to scroll |
| designer, as each has its own benefits and | | | | horizontally. |
| deficiencies. Let us look through each and discover | | | | II. Fixed width layouts usually result to large coverage |
| everything you need to know for you to make the | | | | of whitespace in large monitors such that there is a |
| right choice. | | | | waste of unused space, and further vertical scrolling |
| Fixed width layouts allow you to start with a specific | | | | may be needed than necessary. |
| size that you set. This allows you better and direct | | | | III. This layout can not deal with font size changes |
| control so that you know how your page will look | | | | quite well. A small increase in the font may be |
| like, at least most of the time. They work best if | | | | tolerated, but larger increases can not be handled well |
| you work with print backgrounds, as they allow for | | | | that your overall layout may become compromised. |
| minute adjustments in the layout without | | | | Liquid Width Layouts |
| inconsistencies across browsers and operating | | | | 1. The Web Design Benefits |
| systems. On the other hand, with a liquid layout, you | | | | I. This layout can contract and expand to fill in all |
| base the layout on a percentage of the browser's | | | | available space on the page. |
| current window size. Liquid layouts allows for an | | | | II. All available space is used up, thereby allowing you |
| efficient use of space given by any browser window | | | | to display as much content as you need to in larger |
| or screen resolution. They are often used by web | | | | monitors, yet still remain viewable on smaller ones. |
| designers who want to get as much information | | | | III. This layout can provide you consistency in relative |
| across in a very limited space. Your web design | | | | widths, therefore allowing your page to respond |
| company may ask you to choose one from the | | | | dynamically to restrictions and specifications that may |
| other depending on the needs of your client. | | | | be imposed by your client, such as larger font sizes. |
| What is at stake for you and for your web design | | | | 2. The Web Design Drawbacks |
| company when you choose between these two | | | | I Liquid layouts do not offer precise control over the |
| windows? Well, the method you choose has a large | | | | page width and the elements on the page. |
| bearing not only on the final site design and | | | | II. This layout may result to columns in the text |
| aesthetics, but will also affect the ability of your | | | | which are either too wide for comfortable scanning, |
| online visitors to scan through the contents of your | | | | or too small for the text to show up very clearly. |
| site. Furthermore, the layout can affect the ease, by | | | | III. Liquid layouts tend to have problems when dealing |
| which readers will find what they are looking for in | | | | with elements in the page which has fixed width (i.e. |
| the page, and can also reinforce or ruin your | | | | image and graphics). If the column does not have |
| marketing efforts in the website. Thus, your web | | | | enough space, some browsers may increase the |
| design company may stress the importance of | | | | column width, and all other elements in your page |
| choosing the right one depending on the message | | | | may not be in the proper order. |
| that the client wants to communicate across. | | | | Many designers usually go for the mixed approach. |
| The Web Design Benefits and the Drawbacks | | | | You web design company may also suggest you to |
| To help you and your web design company to decide | | | | use both layouts depending on the page and the part |
| on which to use, I will present the benefits and the | | | | of the site you are making. You can, for example, |
| drawbacks for each type of layout. | | | | set your main columns to fixed width but make your |
| Fixed Width Layout | | | | side columns, headers and footers more flexible. With |
| 1. The web design Benefits | | | | time and experience, you will eventually learn how to |
| I. Allows you to come up with pages that look | | | | make the most out of the features of each layout |
| entirely identical no matter who is browsing and what | | | | type to come up with an optimized site. |